The Ministry of Interior’s anti-transnational crime task force, in collaboration with the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bafa) and the German Embassy in Cambodia, held a seminar on the third promotion of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to review the problem of illegal arms proliferation in Asean and the world.

Held from February 26 to 27, the event was attended by Ministry of Interior secretary of state and anti-transnational crime task force chairman in the Asean framework Meach Sophanna, EU vice-president of Cooperation to Cambodia Camilla Lambard, and the first secretary of the German Embassy in Cambodia Sascha Reebs.

The workshop was also attended by selected speakers and experts from various European countries and Cambodian speakers from the Ministry of National Defence, the National Police and representatives from related institutions

Sophanna acknowledged that all weapons produced were harmful to the body and life and that many of the world’s armed forces used them in conflicts.

He said the ATT agreement meeting provided an opportunity for Asean community members to reflect on their shared commitment and mutual link of development and national security and revisit obligations against arms transfers that could endanger civil and humanitarian security in the region.

Sophanna said while Cambodia is not an arms producer or dealer, the Kingdom still suffered because of weapons.

“The chronic armed conflict in Cambodia ended in late 1998 under the support of the weapons collection and destruction programme of the UN, EU and Japan.

“We must also praise the government’s Win-Win Policy for creating the peace that we know today,” he said.

German Embassy spokesman Benjamin Knoedler could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Bafa, in cooperation with its anti-transnational crime task force in Asean framework, has organised two workshops to study the effective integration of the arms trade regulations in national laws and universal practices, the Ministry of Interior said on its website on Wednesday.

It acknowledged that the problems of the illicit arms trade are challenges faced in the region and globally.

The ministry said Cambodia has been a signatory to the ATT since October 18, 2013, through the Cambodian ambassador to the UN, but has not yet completed the application in order to be ratified.